160496 Guidelines for the control and prevention of bed bug infestations in California

Wednesday, November 7, 2007: 1:15 PM

Laura Krueger, MPH , California Department of Health Services, Vector-Borne Disease Section, Ontario, CA
        
In recent years bed bug infestations have increased throughout the United States. In response to this re-emerging public health issue, the California Department of Health Services developed guidelines to assist affected entities (local health jurisdictions, owners and operators of hotels and multi-unit properties, pest control operators, tenants and the rental furniture industry) in the prevention, surveillance, and control of bed bug infestations. Based on reports from local health departments and pest control operators, infestations persist in hotels, nursing homes, public housing, apartment complexes, moving vans, jails, furniture rental stores, dormitories, and other multi-unit dwellings. In addition to discussing these guidelines, results from a survey of 20 California health jurisdictions' bed bug inspection and assistance programs will be presented. Survey highlights include; 1) innovative programs providing financial assistance to low-income and disabled populations for bed bug eradication services, 2) bed bug code enforcement options, and 3) jurisdictional variances in closure times (24, 48, or 72 hours) enforced to abate bed bug infestations.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the challenges that stakeholders (health inspectors, hotel/multi-unit operators, tenants, rental furniture industry, and pest control operators) face in eradicating bed bug infestations, and the guidelines written by California Department of Health Services to direct control and prevention efforts by these entities. 2. Recognize factors contributing to bed bug re-emergence in the United States, with examples from California. 3. Understand the economic cost of bed bug eradication services to low-income and disabled populations, and the role of local health jurisdictions in assisting these populations with eradication efforts.

Keywords: Emerging Health Issues, Vulnerable Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: The Role of Environment in Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
See more of: Environment